The Federal Bureaucracy Chapter 15

Introduction Myths Americans dislike bureaucrats Most federal bureaucrats work in DC Are always ineffective, inefficient, and mired in red tape

The Bureaucrats Who are they? Most demographically representative part of gov’t Diversity of jobs mirrors private sector

The Bureaucrats: How They Got There Civil Service –merit based hiring and promotion Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) Merit Principle Entrance exams and promotions encourage talent and skill Hatch Act Prohibits gov’t employees from actively participating in partisan politics

The Bureaucrats: How They Got There Office of Personnel Management General Schedule (GS) rating Salary schedule for federal employees ranging from GS 1-18, tied to experience

The Bureaucrats: How They Got There Senior Executive Service Elite group of ~ 9,000 federal gov’t managers Established by Civil Service Reform Act (1978) The Plum Book Lists top jobs available for Prez appointment Most important trait is transience - ambassadors

How Bureaucracies Are Organized

How Bureaucracies Are Organized Independent Regulatory Agencies Responsible for some sector of economy making rules and judging disputes to protect public interest Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Gov’t Corporations Independent Executive Agencies

Bureaucracies as Implementers Translating goals and objectives of policy into operating, ongoing program Includes: Creating and assigning agency Creating rules, regulations, and forms Coordinating resources

Bureaucracies as Implementers Why Best-Laid Plans Are Not Implemented Program Design Lack of Clarity Laws are ambiguous and imprecise Lack of Resources Administrative Routine Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) bring uniformity but are difficult to change Administrator’s Dispositions Administrative discretion – choosing btw various responses Street-level bureaucrats have most discretion Fragmentation Policies can be spread across multiple agencies = different rules

Bureaucracies as Regulators Economy and Everyday Life Regulation – use of gov’t authority to control or change practice in private sector Always contains: Congressional grant of power, direction Rules and guidelines set by agency Means to enforce compliances w/ rules Command-and-Control Policy Incentive System

Bureaucracies as Regulators Toward Deregulation Lifting restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities Regulatory Problems: Raises prices Hurts U.S.’s competitive position abroad Does not always work well

Bureaucracies as Regulators Iron Triangles and Issue Networks Some argue Triangles replaced by issue networks that focus on multiple policies Issue Networks – alliance of interest groups that unite to promote cause or agenda Both are difficult but not impossible to get rid of

Bureaucracy and Democracy President Control Appoint right people Issues executive orders Alter agency budget Reorganize an agency Creation of the Department of Homeland Security Congressional Control Influence appointment of agency heads Alter agency’s budget Hold oversight hearings Rewrite legislation or make it more detailed

Summary Bureaucrats shape policy as administrators, implementers, and regulators Bureaucracy’s primary responsibility is the implementation of public policy Federal bureaucracy has not grown but has in fact shrunk of late